At Soondol Tofu, the new Korean restaurant on Sixth Street that opened in early September, diners are treated to shareable soups and stews cooked tableside. The newcomer takes over the now-closed 365, a popular pocha that served dishes like budae jjigae and kimchi pancakes with plenty of soju and beer. The restaurant’s owner, Tano Yoo, moved to Los Angeles 14 years ago from Seattle and currently lives and operates restaurants in Koreatown, including Seorae BBQ and Korean BBQ Bowl.
The opening menu features three types of broth bases: spicy red pepper which resembles a classic soondubu, nutty perilla powder, and spicy kimchi stew. The rest of the menu is comprised of various add-ons. Meat options are priced at $7 and include beef, daechang (large intestine), salted pollock roe, and seafood. For toppings, find stir-fried kimchi and soft tofu for $5, while dumplings, tteok (rice cakes), and an egg boiled in the broth are priced at $3 each. Noodles like ramen, udon, and sujebi (hand-torn dough) can be added for $3.
After selecting the broth and add-ons, a server brings the ingredients to the table in a shallow pot. A rich, milky oxtail broth is poured over the top and allowed to simmer before everything is mixed. Even with a server refilling the broth as it cooks down, the stew becomes thicker and richer as the meal progresses. This style of tableside cooking and communal portioning reflects a popular dining trend in Seoul where groups gather over bubbling pots of budae jjigae and kimchi stew. Meals at Soondol include a selection of banchan like marinated bean sprouts and cooked zucchini, and a side of purple rice.
In addition to the shareable stews, Soondol also serves a la carte sides like steamed tofu with kimchi, stir-fried daechang, Korean fried chicken, and buchujeon (chive pancake). The restaurant is in the process of getting its license to serve beer and soju.
The opening of Soondol offers another all-day option on a busy block of Koreatown that’s home to local favorites like Dan Sung Sa and Oakobing. The restaurant serves a lunch special Monday through Friday for $17.99 with a choice of Korean fried chicken, pork cutlet, bulgogi, or stir-fried pork, and either soondubu or kimchi stew.
Soondol Tofu is located at 3300 W. 6th Street Suite #1, Los Angeles, California 90020, and is open from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.
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